Linsanity

What do I think about Jeremy Lin's recent success playing for the New York Knicks? Thanks for asking ...

In a word: historic. I grew up playing basketball in the Japanese American leagues in LA, with the Gardena FOR Supersonics, where (at a very average 5' almost-2") I got to play all positions, including my favorite -- center. I seriously thought all Japanese American girls had leagues like this, and that most Japanese American girls played basketball (since that's what it was like in the world of Gardena). I thought that I would someday grow up to play with Bill Walton for the UCLA Bruins. Of course, that didn't happen, but when I did go to college, I went up to the Fifth Floor of Payne-Whitney and ran in pick-up games with all the Asian American ballers. I witnessed the graceful defense of Alex Te, the lithe and lanky Larry Ng posting up on the very sturdy Ben Sun, the signature snake-like drive-to-the-hoop of Vernon Wong, the rebounding hops of Michael Chai, and the yes-I-am-a-badass strut of Glenn Tokumaru, running the point and just about everything else on the court. Yes, those were the days. The glory days of AASA hoops. (Okay, maybe the glory days happened before or after I was there, but I am going to remember them that way, regardless.)

Our games were peppered with exclamations of "Doctor J!" or "A-keeeeem!" -- or any number of dubious and wishful comparisons. Now, I am guessing, there will be more than a few shouts of "JEREMY LIN!!!"

I was, literally, moved to tears when I saw the highlights of Jeremy Lin's first winning game with the Knicks. Yes, I cried. Laugh if you want to, but I know I'm not alone. In addition to him playing so well, he has also carried himself with such humility -- in a league where egomaniacs rule, it is so incredibly refreshing. I think this is a huge part of his appeal.

The only part of the Linsanity that has been uncomfortable is the inevitable race-based signage -- slanty-eyed caricatures, "who says Asians can't drive?", "Yellow Mamba" (in response to Kobe, the apparently self-proclaimed Black Mamba), "Asians love MSG" -- some of which has been created by Asian Americans, which I don't quite get, but I have chosen not to get all worked up about that since I would rather enjoy this Lincredible moment in basketball history.

I hope this is not the end of Jeremy Lin's run, but even if it is -- J.Lin has made history, and I think we will see a greater openness to Asian American basketball players in the future. Any AA ballers who are coming up now can thank J.Lin for being a pioneering force.

My husband is getting annoyed with me, calling me names like "Jeremaniac" and telling me I've gone "Linsane."

I plan to get him an NBA League Pass for Valentine's Day ;-)